| As we enter the month of December the holiday | | | | |
| season is moving into high gear. Every TV | | | | Kwanzaa: a unique African American |
| commercial says "Buy, Buy, Buy." Some even | | | | celebration with focus on the traditional |
| suggest that you get a loan so you can buy | | | | African values of family, community |
| those expensive gifts you think each member | | | | responsibility, commerce, and |
| of your family wants (and needs?) After all, | | | | self-improvement. Kwanzaa is neither |
| will 5 year old Tommy ever respect you again | | | | political nor religious and despite some |
| if you don't give him his own cell phone with | | | | misconceptions, is not a substitute for |
| music, video and text messaging? (of course | | | | Christmas. It is simply a time of reaffirming |
| he can't read or spell but so what?) Will 13 | | | | African-American people, their ancestors and |
| year old Jessica forgive you if she doesn't | | | | culture. |
| receive those $120 designer jeans? Does your | | | | |
| wife expect diamonds or your husband expect a | | | | Two are religious celebrations and one is a |
| Rolex even though you're on a tight budget? | | | | celebration of family and culture. I know the |
| Or, hey, how about having twin Mercedes | | | | history of Santa Claus and, essentially, it |
| sitting in the driveway on Christmas morning | | | | has nothing to do with the above three |
| like the commercials instruct? | | | | celebrations and Santa doesn't relate to the |
| | | | present day commercialism, either. |
| Get real | | | | |
| | | | No, my name is not Scrooge and I love the |
| At the foundation of self improvement is | | | | gifting at Christmas/Hannukah as much as |
| knowing what you believe and how that belief | | | | anyone. I love the smell of all that |
| system shows up in your everyday life. When | | | | wonderful food, the pine scent of the tree, |
| your beliefs are yours and not what you were | | | | and the scent of candles. I love the |
| told you must believe and your boundaries are | | | | excitement of the children and their |
| clear, you can celebrate how you choose to | | | | eagerness to shred the fancy paper and get to |
| celebrate. That celebration may be | | | | what it hides. I love the family coming |
| traditional or avant guarde and it will be | | | | together and talking about old times and |
| meaningful to you. You may choose not to | | | | what-might-have-been as well as what is now. |
| celebrate at all and that is certainly an | | | | I love seeing the new babies, and hugging the |
| option as well. Being able to do this | | | | grandmas and grandads and seeing how much the |
| requires high self esteem and balance in your | | | | nieces and nephews have grown. But, give me |
| life. | | | | a break. What does this have to do with |
| | | | Christmas, Hannukah or Kwanzaa? |
| Let's look at the holidays we celebrate: | | | | |
| | | | Let's at least get honest about what it is we |
| Christmas: a celebration of the birth of | | | | are celebrating and let's make our own rules |
| Jesus. | | | | about exactly how we want to celebrate it. |
| | | | Don't let peer pressure or the merchandisers |
| Hanukkah (Chanukah): the festival of lights | | | | tell you what to do or what and how much to |
| that celebrates the rededication of the | | | | buy or how it is you will celebrate |
| temple at the time of the Macabee rebellion. | | | | Christmas, Hannukah or Kwanzaa. |